Matrimonial Finance: Trusts & Company Law Barristers

King's Counsel

As part of a broad Chancery-Commercial practice, Daniel Lightman KC engages with challenging and novel issues of law and civil procedure, in particular concerning shareholder disputes (having appeared in a number of landmark unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims), company law (including in matrimonial proceedings), insolvency, civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence.

Shortlisted for Company/Insolvency Silk of the Year in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards in both 2026 and 2024 and shortlisted for Chancery Silk of the Year in the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2026, Daniel is recommended in Band 1 for Silks for Company by both Chambers UK, 2027 and the Legal 500, 2027 – and in Band 1 for Chancery Commercial by Chambers. Chambers UK, 2027 describes him as “A go-to silk for high value, complex disputes who leads the pack on shareholder disputes. He has great judgement and always furnishes reliable advice” and praises him for “constantly identifying innovative solutions to complex problems” and building “outstanding relationships with the wider legal team.”

Daniel has an extensive international practice, including current or recent shareholder litigation in the courts of Abu Dhabi, Bermuda, Cayman, Guernsey and Qatar, and a multi-shareholder arbitration in Hong Kong.

Daniel Lightman KC

Call: 1995
Silk: 2016

Described by The Legal 500 as “one of the stars of his generation”, Richard Wilson KC specialises in litigation, drafting and advisory work across traditional and commercial chancery. His practice focuses on trusts and probate, both contentious and non-contentious, related company and partnership law, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, tax, professional negligence and civil fraud.

Richard has acted in many of the most significant and high-value cases in these areas in recent years. He is currently involved in several disputes concerning the estates of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) in England and overseas.

His practice frequently involves offshore matters and private international law. He has appeared before the Privy Council, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Gibraltar, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Bermuda, the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He has also provided expert evidence on English law before the Royal Courts of Jersey and Guernsey.

Richard regularly acts in disputes across all the principal offshore jurisdictions. A significant proportion of his practice involves international clients, particularly those based in Asia, including Hong Kong.

Richard Wilson KC

Call: 1996
Silk: 2016

Professor Jonathan Harris KC (Hon)

Call: 2006
Silk: 2016

Dakis Hagen KC

Call: 2002
Silk: 2017

Giles Richardson KC

Call: 1997
Silk: 2022

Matthew Morrison KC has a broad commercial chancery practice, with particular expertise in civil fraud, company and partnership disputes, and insolvency litigation.

Described by Chambers UK 2027 as an “outstanding barrister” who is “technically brilliant, fantastic with clients and someone whose cross-examination is exceptional”, Matthew regularly appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal and has acted in proceedings before the Grand Court and Court of Appeal of the Cayman Islands, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI), the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, the Isle of Man High Court of Justice and the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts. He also has significant experience assisting advocates before the Royal Courts of Jersey and Guernsey. He is generally admitted to the BVI Bar and is currently admitted ad hoc on a number of matters in the Cayman Islands.

Matthew is an established legal author. He has written widely read PLC practice notes on minority shareholder remedies and edits chapters on directors’ duties and disqualification, and insolvency, in Gore-Browne, Butterworths Corporate Law Service, Tolley’s Company Law Service and Tolley’s Company Law Handbook; and on unfair prejudice, misfeasance and disqualification in the Law of Limited Liability Partnerships (Whittaker and Machell (6th ed.), 2026).

Matthew Morrison KC

Call: 2004
Silk: 2025

James Weale KC has a very busy commercial chancery practice with a focus on domestic and international commercial and trusts disputes.

He is recognised as a leading practitioner in those fields by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Chambers Global, Chambers High Net Worth, and Who’s Who Legal, where they describe him as a “brilliant lawyer” and a “Superstar”. He was Chambers & Partners’ Chancery Junior of the Year in 2023.

He regularly appears (both as sole and junior counsel) in the English High Court and has appeared several times in the Court of Appeal. He also has considerable experience in overseas jurisdictions (including as sole counsel), including Bermuda, the DIFC, the BVI, Cayman, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and Panama.

James Weale KC

Call: 2007
Silk: 2026

Junior Counsel - Over 10 years

Jennifer Haywood

Call: 2001

Adil Mohamedbhai

Call: 2010

Jonathan McDonagh

Call: 2011

Emma Hargreaves

Call: 2012

Zahler Bryan has a broad commercial chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on contentious trusts, civil fraud and financial disputes.

She regularly advises on a wide range of matters, with considerable experience in large-scale commercial and trust disputes spanning an extensive range of jurisdictions.

Zahler also has a particular interest in appellate work and has appeared in the Supreme Court and the Privy Council.

Described as “razor smart and a great asset to any team“, Zahler was awarded ‘Chancery Junior of the Year’ at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2023.

Zahler Bryan

Call: 2012

Charlotte Beynon has a commercial chancery practice encompassing contentious trusts, civil fraud, insolvency and commercial litigation.

Her clients say, “Charlotte is brilliant. A superstar in the making”, and they also commend her as “pragmatic, responsive and commercial.”

She frequently handles complex, high-value cases, onshore and offshore, often with international elements. She is particularly experienced in acting in high-value offshore trusts disputes and complex fraud claims – often raising issues of private international law.

Charlotte regularly appears in the High Court and County Court both led and as sole counsel. She also appears as specialist chancery counsel in matrimonial proceedings in the Family Division. Her legal writing has been published in Trusts & Trustees.

Charlotte Beynon

Call: 2015

Junior Counsel - Under 10 years

Gregor Hogan

Call: 2016

Stephanie Thompson

Call: 2017

Andrew Gurr

Call: 2020

Since joining chambers in 2024 on the successful completion of pupillage, Anneliese has enjoyed acting led and as sole counsel in matters both domestic and offshore. She has a particular interest in matters involving trusts, private clients, contracts and commercial arrangements, matrimonial finance, intellectual property, and art and cultural property.

Anneliese is identified as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Legal 500, and as ‘Up and Coming’ in Chambers & Partners’ High Net Worth Guide and UK Bar directories.

Well-publicised matters in which Anneliese has been involved include the Jersey Heritage Trust’s claim against artist Christopher Levine (led by Stephanie Wickenden, for the claimant), Ant and Dec’s successful application for a Norwich Pharmacal order against a respondent art dealer (led by Harry Martin, for the applicants), a trademark dispute arising out of a “Dragon’s Den” invention (led by Michael Edenborough), and the will validity dispute Leonard v Leonard [2024] EWHC 321(ChD) (as a pupil).

Prior to joining Chambers, Anneliese was a fine art specialist at international auction houses. She holds an MBA alongside her legal and undergraduate qualifications and is bilingual in French.

Anneliese Mondschein

Call: 2021

Isaac Wong

Call: 2023

Matrimonial Finance: Trusts & Company Law